Receptionists working in veterinarians' offices may have a variety of duties, from greeting and signing in patients' owners, to answering phones, to tracking animals' health records and owners' personal information. How much these veterinary office receptionists are paid depends in part upon their level of responsibility, though the average pay is generally less than $30,000 a year.

Receptionists

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 38,710 receptionists and information clerks working in veterinary practices nationwide as of May 2011. These receptionists earned an average annual wage of $24,980, or $12.01 an hour. The best-paid 10 percent earned $33,980 or more, while the lowest-paid 10 percent earned $17,970 or less.

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Receptionists who also handled clerical duties such as correspondence were classified by the BLS as secretaries or administrative assistants. The BLS reported 6,370 of these workers in veterinary offices nationwide. They earned an average annual wage of $28,370, or $13.64 an hour. The top 10 percent earned $41,430 or more, while the bottom 10 percent earned $18,920 or less.

Medical Secretaries

The BLS reported that veterinary services employed 5,220 receptionists specially trained in veterinary coding and record-keeping. These workers, designated as medical secretaries, earned an average of $28,730 a year, or $13.81 an hour. The best-paid 10 percent earned $41,230 or more, while the lowest-paid 10 percent made $19,360 or less.

Executive Assistants

Some receptionists were responsible for supervising the front desk, or working directly with the veterinarian on scheduling and other important administrative tasks. The BLS reported 1,130 of these executive assistants employed, at an average of $41,030 a year, or $19.72 an hour. The top 10 percent were paid $58,890 or more, while the bottom 10 percent were paid $26,320 or less.

About the Author

Eric Strauss spent 12 years as a newspaper copy editor, eventually serving as a deputy business editor at "The Star-Ledger" in New Jersey before transitioning into academic communications. His byline has appeared in several newspapers and websites. Strauss holds a B.A. in creative writing/professional writing and recently earned an M.A. in English literature.